Flushing and ventilating apparatus for closets



H. c. BOWLUS FLUSHING AND VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR CLOSETS April 3, 192s Filed May 1 9 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,4 TTU/PNE Y April 3, 1928.

H. C. BOWLUS FLUSHING AND VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR CLOSETS Filed May l95 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //\/VE/VTO/? H C. 50 WLUS.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

' HENRY c. BOWLUS, or sramermnn, 01110, AssIeNoa TO ARTHUR n. HOSTERMAN; or

' SPRINGFIELD, onro. I

FLUSHING AND VENTILATING APPARATUSFOR GLOSETS. I

Application filed May 7,

This .invention relates to a flushing and ventilating apparatus for closets.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple efiicient ventilating device which can be quickly and easily installed.

A further object of the invention is to 7 mechanism will be mounted on and within.

1 the ventilating conduit, 'therebyenabling the flushing mechanism and its actuating device to be mounted in the'proper relation to the closet without interfering with the ventilating device.

Other objects ofthe invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional View taken through a ventilating shaft showing a plurality of closets connected therewith; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of an apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. .3 is a longitudinally vertical sectional View through. the ventilating conduit and flushing .valve mechanism; Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken throughtheventilating conduit and showing the actuating device for the flushing mechanism in plan and partly broken away; and Fig."'5 is a sectional detail view of the connection between the seat and the actuating devices.

In thesedrawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same in connection with alcloset comprisinga bowl 1 of'a well known type. Mounted on the top of the rear wall of the bowl is a ventilating conduit 2, the forward end otwhich is closed and the bottom wall of which is provided near its forward end with an opening 3 which overhangs the bowl and is in open communication therewith. The rear end of the conduit is connected with a suitable outlet. Usually the conduit extends through a wall, such as shown at 4, and is in open communication with a suction chamber or ventilating shaft, as shown at 5 in Fig. 1. Preferably a suction fan is connected with this ventilating chamber or shaft to withdraw' the air therefrom. .The conduit Q is preferably rectangular in cross section so that it can bemounted in an opening 1925. Serial No. 28,575.

in the wallmade by removing the necessary bricksand with a comparatively small cutting away of masonry as compared with a round conduit for which a round opening must bemade. .The fiat lower wall of the conduit rests upon the upper edge of the rear wall of the bowl and is preferably secured thereto by screws extending through apertured lugs 2 projecting from the opposite sides of the conduit and, if desired, suitable packing material may be interposed between the conduit and the bowl to protect the porcelain. I

Connected'with the bowl is a flush pipe 6 which. in the present arrangement, is connected with the rear wall of the bowl near the top thereof and extends through the wall 4t-ofthe ventilating chamber or shaft and is connected, by suitable valvei mechanism arranged within that chamber:v or shaft, with a source of watersupply under pressure. In the apparatus here shown I have provided a storage receptacle or tank 7 in which water may be stored under pressure and'then discharged throughthe flush pipe .to the bowl. To this end'the tank 7 is connected with both thefiush pipe 6 and with a supply pipe S vhich may lead to the city water main or anyrother suitable supply of water under pressure. The connections between the tank and the supply. pipe and between the tank and the flush pipe are automatically controlled by the position of a seat 9 which is supported above the bowl and is movable with relation thereto. As here shown, the tank 7 is connected with the supply pipe and the flush pipe through a single valve casinglO which is provided at one'end 'with a valve chamber 11 with whichthe supply pipe 8 is connected, and is provided at its other end with a valve chamber 19. with which the flush pipe 6 is connected. ,Arranged between the chambers 11 and 12 is an intermediate chamber 13 with which thetank 7 is connected by means of, a

the port-16 andv constitutes the valve seat. Preferably the rubber contact" member 18 is seated in a circular recess in the-valvemember so-that the :rubber 1s .surrounded by a flange l9 whlch prevents the same-.froinbeing flattened or distorted by its contact with the valve stem. Thezvalve membe'r 17 is also shown as having a skirt 20 of such a length that when the-valve is-inits closed position the skirt will extend across and -elose'the"opening leading; to the supply pipe'8. This feature, however, is optional and is not essential. to-the-operatroniof "the device. The chamber -13' is separated from *the-valve' chamber12bymeans ofa partition- 21 having a port '22'througlr whichcommunication may be established between the two chambers. This port is controlled by a' valve23 which is preferably provided with a contact portion 24 ofrubber'or'other yieldable materialwhich willform a firm contact with that portion of the partition 21 surrounding the port 22. and. constituting the valve seat, and this contact member is alsosurrounded by-a flange 25to prevent the the outer end 'ofthe'valve chamber 12. It

w-ill'=be apparent that when the valves are inthe position shown in Fig. 3 the tank is cut oil fromthe supply pipe and is-in open communication with the bowl. When the positions of the valves are reversed the tank will be cut olifrom'the flush pipe and conneeted'with the supply pipe and 'water entering the tank will compress the air contained within the tank'so that the water will be stored 'in' the tank under an air pressure equal to the pressure in-the supply line. hen the positions of the valves are-again reversed the tank will be cut ofl from the supply pipe and connected-with the flush pipe so that the water wliich has been stored 'in'the ventilating conduit 2 a transverse shaft 28, the side walls. of the conduit being provided with bearings 29in' which the shaft .is journaled. The shaft isprovide'd at each end with a -redueed' portion 30 which pro- 'jectsbeyond the adjacent sidewall of the conduit and constitutes a pintle on which is journaledthebearingportion of a hinge 31 which is connected with and servesas -a support for the seat 9. 'The'seat is divided or bifurcated at its rear end. so as to extend on theopposite sides of the forwardportion of the conduit and each side of the seat is provided-witha .hinge 31 and-the two hinges are -journaled on the respective pintles. The connection between the seat hinges and the shaft"28-=is such that when the seat is moved in one direction rocking movement will be imparted to the-shaft 28 and, as here shown, .the end portions of the shaft 28 a1'e proand'within the ventilating conduit 2 with a crank arm 34 which is here shown as a lug carried by a bolt 3,5extendingthrough-the shaft and held therein by a nut 36: Pivotally= connected with'the-cranlrarm 34 is an actuating rod 37, the opposite'end of which is connected with the valve rod 26. In the present construction, this red extends rearwardly through an opening or 'guideway formed in a-transverse bar 38 mountedvwithin the ventilating conduit and secured to the side walls thereof. I'have shown this transverse bar as provided with rearwardly extending lugs 39 which are secured to the respective sidewalls ofthe conduitby means of screws 40." The rear endof'the actuati'ng rod, which extends beyond 'the guide bar 38 'may beconnected with the valve rod 26 in any suitable manner but, in the presentinstanee, I'have mounted on the end of the 'rod 7' a coupli'ng'member 41, which is preferably screw threaded onto the end of the rod and has at its rear end an opening of a relatively small size surrounded by a. flange 42; Extending through the opening in-tl1e end of the coupling member is-a screw 43 the head of which lies within the coupling member and contacts with the flange 42 while the threaded shank thereof is screwed into the end of the valve rod 26. Preferably'the screw is not completely tightened down but sufiicient looseness is left to permit of a slight pivotal movementof the coupling member and actuating rod with relation to the valve rod. A lock nut 41' serves to retainthe coupling member in adjusted positions. I acted on by a spring which tends to move the same forwardly in a direction to seat the valve 17 'and, as here shown, a spring44 is coiled about the shaft 37 and bears at one The actuating rod 37 is v end'against the guide bar 38 and at its other end" against anadjusting 'nut 45 whiehis screw threaded onto the rod 37, and by means of which the tension ofthespring may be regulated. In order that the length of the rod 37 may be variedI'have shown the same as formed in two parts which are connected one to the other by a coupling member 46 in which the ends of the two rods are threaded. In order to retain the valve casing 10 in its proper relation to the ventilating conduit and the actuating mechanism carried thereby I have interposed between the valve casing and the conduit spacing bars 47 which, in the present arrangement, have their forward ends secured to the respective side walls of the conduit by means of the screws 40 and have their rear ends connected with the valve casing by means of screws 48. The arrangement of the lugs 32' and 33. on the shaft 28 of theseat hinges is such that when the actuating rod is moved forwardly by the action ,of the spring 44 the lugs 32 on the shaft will engage the corresponding lugs 33 on the hinges and move the seat into a slightly elevated position, as shown in the drawings. Vhen the seat is depressed .into contact with the top of the bowl the lugs 33 will act on the lugs 32 to rock i the shaft 28 and move the actuating rod 37 ill) rearwardly to unseat the valve 17 and to seat the valve 23, thus permitting the storage tank .7 .to fill. When the seat 9 is released the action of the spring on the rod 37 will elevate the seat and move the valve 17 to its closed position and the valve 23 to its open position, thus permitting thewater in the tank to be delivered to the bowl. It will be noted that the spacing arrangement of the lugs 32 on the shaft and'the lugs 33 on the hinge members is such that the hinged members may move relativelyto the shaft to permit the seat to be moved to an up-' right position and across its center of grav-- seat in the event the shaft 28 should be re.

versed or turned end for end.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that I have provided. a very simple efficient apparatus for ventilating the bowl and for flushing the same. The apparatus is of such a. character that the flush pipe and the flushing mechanism may extendrear'wardly from the center of the bowl and the flushing mechanism may be connectedwith the seat without in any way interfering with the installation and operation of the ventilating conduit. Further, the arrangement is a very compact one and the conduit serves to conceal from view the larger portion of the seat controlled actuating device for the flushing mechanism. 7

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my inventionI wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a bowl, a flush pipe connected with said bowl, valve mechanism to control the flow of water through said flush pipe, a ventilat-v ing conduit mounted at the top of said bowl in open communication therewith and having its rear end connected with an outlet, a shaft rotatably mounted in the walls of said conduit and extending beyond said walls, an arm connected with said shaft, an actuating rod arranged within said conduit, connected atone end with said arm and. connected at its other end with said valve mechanism, a spring acting on said rod to move the same in one direction, a seat, and hinge members for said seatmounted on the respective ends of said shaft for rotatory movement with relation thereto, said hinge members and said ends of said shaft having cooperating parts to cause said seat to be partially elevated by the action of said spring and to cause said actuating rod to be moved against the tension of said spring by the movement of said seat in one direction but permit said seat to be moved'in the other direction independently of said shaft.

2. In a device of the character described, a bowl, a flush pipe connected'with said bowhvalve mechanism to control the flow of water through said flush pipe, a ventilating conduit mounted at the top of said bowl in open communication therewith and having itsrear end connected with air-outlet,- a shaft rotatably mounted in'the walls of said conduit .and extending beyond said walls, an arm connected with said shaft, an actuating rod arranged within said conduit, connected at one end with said arm and connected at its other end with said valve mechanism, a

spring acting on said rod to move the same in one direction, a seat, and hinge members for said seat mounted on the respective ends of said shaft for rotatory movement with relation thereto, said shaft and said hinge members having cooperating lugs 50 arranged that the movement of the shaft by said spring will cause said lugs to elevate the seat and the downward movement of the seat will cause said lugs to impart move ment to said rod against the action of said spring, said lugs being so arranged with relation one to the other that said seat may bowl, valve mechanism to control the flow ofwater'through said flush pi pc, a ventilatingconduit mounted at-the top ofsa-id bowl iir open communication therewith and having its rear. end-connected with an; outlet a shaft journaled in the side walls of said conduit and having portions of reduced diameter extending beyond the respective side walls, an arm connected. with said shaft within said'conduit, an actuating rod ex-,

tending lengthwise of said conduit, connected at one end with said arm and connected at its other end with said valve mechanism, a:- spring acting on said actuating rod to move the same in one direction, a seat, and hinges for said seatjournaled, on the respective end portions of said shaft,.said shaft and said hinges having cooperating lugs so arranged. that the movement of said shaft in onev direction by said spring will cause said lugs to elevate said seat and the downward movement of said seat will cause said lugs to move said shaft and said actuating rod in theopposite direction against the tension. of said spring, said lugs being so arranged witlrrelation one to the other that said seatimay be moved relatively to said shaft intoan upright position.

In an apparatus of the character described, a bowl, a flush pipe connected with said bowl, valve mechanism to control the flow of waterfroin said flush pipe and cornprising a valve-casing mounted independentlyof said bowl,.a ventilating conduit mounted at the top of said bowl and in open communication therewith and. having its rear end connected with an outlet, an actuating device mounted in said conduit and operatively connected with said valve mechanism, a seat movably supported on said bowl and operatively connected with said actuating device, and means for connecting the valve casing with said conduit to maintain said valve casing in proper relation to said actuating device. 5. In an apparatus'ofthe character de scribed, a bowl, a flush pipe connected with said bowl, valve mechanism to control the flow of water from said flush pipe and comprising a valve casing, a ventilating conduit mounted at the top of said bowl and in open communication therewith and having its rear end connected with an outlet, a shaft mounted in the side walls of said conduit, an arm connected with said shaft within said-conduit, an actuating rod extending lengthwise of said conduit, connected at one end with said arm and connected at its other end with said'valve mechanism, .a spring tending to'move said rod in one direction. a seat pivotally supported above said bowl and operatively connected with said shaft to move said rod against the tension of said spring, and spacing bars connecting said conduit with said valve casing to maintain said valve casing in: proper position with: re-1 lation to said actuatingcrod.

6. In'an apparatus of the character-do: scribed, a bowl, a flush pipe. connected-with said bowl, valve mechanism to control. the flow of water through said flush pipe and comprising a valvev casing, a ventilating? conduit mounted atthe top of said bowl'and in opencommuication therewith and having its rear end" connectedcwith' an outlet a shaft mounted in .the'side walls of said con d uit, an arm connectedwith said shaft within said conduit, anactuating rod extending lengthwise of said conduit, connected at one end with said arm and connected at its other end with said valve inechanism', aspring tending to move said rod in: one di= rection, a seat 'pivotally supported above said bowl and operatively' connected with said shaft to move said rod against the tension' of said spring, a guide bar extending transversely to said conduit, having lugs arranged adjacent to-the respective walls thereof and having an opening-in which said actuating rod is slid-ably mounted, screws to secure said lugs to the respective side walls, a spacing bar secured 'tosaid conduit by one of said screws and connected at its other end with said valve casing.

'7. in an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a. bowhand a seat pivotally supported above the. same, of

a storage receptacle for water under press 1 sure, a valve casing supported independent to communicate with said intermediate chamber,- a supply'pipe connected'with one of'said end chambers, a fiu' s'h' pipe to connect the other of said. end chambers with" said bowl, valves to control the communication between said intermediate chamber, and the respective end chambers, avalve rod on which said valves are mounted, an actuating rod supported on said bowl, ineans for pivotally connecting said actuating rod with said valve rod, a spring acting on saidvalve rod tomove the same in one direction, and means for connecting said actuating rod with said pivoted seat, whereby the move ment of said seat in one direction will move said actuating rod against the action of said spring. J

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bowl, and a seat pivotally supported. above the same/[of a storage receptacle for water under pressure, a valve casing supported independently of said bowl and comprising an intermediate chamber connected with said storage receptacle and "end chambers adapted to communicate with .said intermediate chamher, a supply pipe connected with one of said end chambers, a flush pipe to connect the other of said end chambers with saidbowl,

which said valves aremounted, an actuating rod supported by said bowl and operatively connected with said valve rod, a spring acting on said actuating rod to move the same in one direction, means for connecting said actuating rod with said pivoted seat to cause said rod to be moved against the action of said spring by the movement of said seat in one direction, and means forvarying the length of said actuating rod.

9. In an apparatus, of the character described, the combination with a bowl, and a seat pivot-ally supported above the same, of a storage receptacle for Water under pressure, a valve casing supported independently of said bowl and comprising an intermediate chamber connected with said bowl and end chambers adapted to comn'iunicate with said intermediate chamber, a supply pipe connected with one of said end chambers, a flush pipe to connect the other of said end chain-'- bers with said bowl, valves to control the communication between said intermediate chamber and the respective end chambers, a valve rodon which said valves are mounted, an actuating rod supported by said bowl, a, coupling member screw threaded onto one end of said actuating rod and having an opening in the other end thereof, a screw extending through said opening and threaded into the end of said valverod, a spring acting on said actuating rod, and an operative connection between said actuating rod and said pivoted seat.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a bowl, a flush pipe connected with said bowl, valve mechanism to control the flow of water through said flush pipe, a ventilating conduit mounted at the top of said bowl in open communication therewith and having its rear end connected with an outlet, an actuating rod slidably mounted in said conduit and operatively connected with said valve mechanism, a spring acting on said actuating rod to move the same in one direction, a shaft journaled in the walls of said conduit, a rock arm carried by said shaft andconnected with said actuating rod, said shaft having end portions projecting beyond the respective side walls of said conduit, each of said end portions being provided with a lug, a hinged member journaled on each end portion of said shaft and having a lug to cooperate with the lug on said shaft, the lugs on said hinge members having projections overlapping the adjacent walls of said conduit, means to retain said hinge member on the end portion of said shaft, and a seat supported by said hinge members.

11. In a. device of thecharacter described, a bowl, a flush. pipe connected with said bowl, valve mechanism to control the flow of water through said flush pipe, a ventilating conduit mounted at the top of said bowl in open comn'iunication therewith and-having parallel side walls extending rearwardly and adapted to be connected with an outlet, said side walls having alined bearings near the forward. end of'said conduit, an actuating device operatively connected with said valve mechanism and compris-' ing a rock shaft journaled in the walls of said conduit, and a pivoted seat arranged above said bowl and operatively connected with said rock shaft. I

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

HENRY O. BOVVLUS. 

